Department / unit(s)

Layman's description

We will purchase novel equipment to measure respiration/oxygen depletion. This consists of glass microplates with embedded, pre-calibrated oxygen sensor spots, signal processor and software. The system enables non-invasive, high through-put respiration measurements in small aquatic or terrestrial organisms, bacteria and soil.

Five research groups from three departments (Environment, Physics, Biology) will use the equipment for a range of research questions and form a user group to share lessons learned, results, protocols and new ideas. As respiration is a fundamental biological process this new, high-throughput technique will enable new research and serve as a focal point for collaboration across departments.

Key findings

Multi-partner project with each team having objectives.

Ecotoxicology: Roman Ashauer

Biophysics: Laurence Wilson

Circadian Biology: Sangeeta Chawla

Parkinson’s disease: Chris Elliot

Soil science: Mark Hodson, Miranda Prendergast-Miller - we have used the system to demonstrate differences in oxygen consumption by soils from different soil management types which could have applications for assessing soil quality. The work was presented at EGU 2017 and is in the process of being written up (June 2018, Prendergast-Miller currently on maternity leave)